Good Neighbours Buying the house next door delivered double happiness for the owners of this Sydney home.
Having spotted the potential in the site next door, a Sydney family made moves to take advantage of the very special location.
Having lived next door to this property on Sydney’s Lower North Shore for several years, owner Priscilla and her husband were very aware of the potential it offered. So when the property came on the market, they quickly took the opportunity to buy. The house needed to be totally rebuilt, however, and plans were drawn up by architects Fox Johnston. Since Priscilla’s husband had experience with building several properties, he picked up the project-management reins and then engaged interior architect Romy Alwill of Alwill Interiors to provide the fixtures, finishes and furniture.
“The owners wished to create a spectacular but grounded home for their family,” says Romy. “They really wanted to lift this house above what they had done previously.” The brief was for ‘luxurious warmth’ but the house also had to be practical for their two teenagers. And its spectacular bay views were to be the focus.
“The main thing we wanted was to have the living areas opening to a level lawn with a pool overlooking the view,” says Priscilla. “We didn’t want an upside-down house, with the living areas upstairs and the bedrooms downstairs.”
Fox Johnston’s plans for the steeply sloping site were for a contemporary twopavilion design connected by a double void to maximise light, space and views, and underpinned by crisp detailing. The house spreads over three levels. Its lowerground floor contains the main entrance, acinemaandateenageretreat.Theground floor accommodates the kitchen, living and dining areas, a separate TV room, powder room and wine cellar, while the first floor includes four bedrooms, a study and three bathrooms.
A minimalist aesthetic that utilised textural and earthy natural materials was the preference of the owners. They also wanted the home to look very different from its neighbour – their previous home – which features a sandstone facade. This time, sandstone was used inside and handfinished, rustic bricks for the exterior. These bricks, which make an appearance on the two lower floors, also feature in the curved walls around the wet-edge pool and refreshed garden, designed by William Dangar. “Rather than a contemporary rendered box, we wanted to experiment with different materials,” says Priscilla.
A sandstone block wall forms the spine that anchors the house and brings a textural element to the living areas. Romy countered the robustness of the sandstone and the crispness of the architecture with softer interior design, introducing lighter, more refined and elegant details such as timber screening and delicate lighting.
Despite its south-facing orientation, the house is flooded with natural light thanks to the inclusion of voids, apertures, skylights and full-height glass doors
SANDSTONE IS TEAMED WITH TIMBER AND BRONZE DETAILING FOR A TEXTURAL, LAYERED FEEL.
that promote an open feel and provide sightlines from front to back and from ground level through to the second floor.
The texture and colour of the sandstone blocks in the spine wall is echoed in the materials palette, creating a Scandinavian vibe. Colourful artworks also provided the spark for schemes that Romy and the owners worked on together. “We layered up textures and materials to complement the sandstone with timber and bronze detailing,” says Romy. “The base palette is overlaid with punches of soft but rich colour in the artworks and furnishings for a sense of relaxed luxury and an inviting aura.”
Priscilla clearly loves the home, saying it “ticks all the boxes”. “The architecture is unique and capitalises on the views. It’s also an entertainer’s paradise, with an easy flow from the spacious living area through to the outdoors and the pool. The interior feels generous and open but it is also zoned to give us some separation. I think it’s the perfect combination.”
Her favourite space is the kitchen, where there’s copious storage as well as a butler’s pantry. A Pitt cooktop is set into the bench for a slick, modern look. But Priscilla is also a fan of the dining area, where there is a direct line of sight to the wine cellar that features beautiful handmade Moroccan tiles. “The wine cellar is a real talking point,” she says. “It’s great when we have people over for dinner – we simply walk in and choose a wine.”
And it seems it’s not just the owners who are happy with the house. Plenty of locals stop to admire it and give it their seal of approval.